Update: In my haste to post this I accidentally forgot to post the introduction. So What follows is the agenda first followed by the meeting notes. I also corrected some typos that resulted in some items not being clear

LAND USE AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Agenda
Bonnefant, Geake, Lindstrom, Sutton, Krummel, Hempstead, Alan Loh, Ralph Velnseze

A. Board of Education (Items tabled from November 29, 2007)

1. 24 Tablet PCs and docking stations – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Advance Corporate Networking for the purchase of 24 Tablet PCs and docking stations for the high schools science departments for a total not to exceed $37,130.40. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

2. 24 Monitors – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to CDW Government, Inc. for the purchase of 24 monitors for a total not to exceed $4,925.18. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

3. Multimedia Projectors – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Adtech Systems for the purchase of multimedia projectors for a total not to exceed $7,191.00. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

4. DVD Players – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Concord Communications for the purchase of DVD players for a total not to exceed $1,422.00. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

5. Printers – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Aztec Technologies for the purchase of printers for a total not to exceed $1,743.00. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

6. Carts – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Concord Communications for the purchase of metal carts for a total not to exceed $1,980.34. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

7. Wireless Laptop Cart – “Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Dell for the purchase wireless laptop carts for a total not to exceed $15,146.09. Acct. #09085010 5777 C0112”

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Board of Education

1. Review architectural design proposals for the reconstruction of the Andrews Field restroom/storage facility and band storage building and refer the following t o the Common Council for approval:
“Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an agreement with (firm to be determined) for architectural design services for the Andrews Field Restroom/Athletic Storage and Band Storage Facilities for a total not to exceed (amount to be determined). Acct. (# to be determined).”

B. Fodor Farm

1. Schedule Public Hearing regarding the Disposition of the two houses on Fodor Farm and refer the proposed disposition to the Planning Commission for Section 8-24 Review.

2. Review updated Lot Line Revision Map.

3. Review project schedule.

C. Surplus Property – 8 Hamilton Avenue

1. Schedule a Public Hearing on the disposition of 8 Hamilton Avenue.

V. MISCELLANEOUS/DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. General Information and status update on the following items:
• Norwalk Historical Commission – Norwalk Museum – operating agreement with Friends of the Norwalk Museums

The Meeting

They approve meeting minutes.

They review items a through e.

Hempstead: Asked about pricing and Velnesez says that he uses state contractors pricing for HP and Apple, but the items are Dell and that he uses the best prices for Dell.

Makes an amendment on the motion that its 25 DVD players and 9 multimedia carts.

They unanimously approve items 1-4

Item 5 printers. Standard model, They add 7 HP printers, Krummel asked about brand and they added ti to the motion. they approve unanimously

Item 6. 25 projector carts, unanimously approved.

Item 7. 10 wireless laptop carts. Bonnefant asked about if they are charged Unanimously approved.

New Business: They review the architectural plans on the Andrews field band storage building. The insurance company has almost reached a settlement which Loh says might be around $180k. The Mayors office asked that Loh manage the project, which is why he is presenting it tonight. They plan to use the existing concrete slab to replace the two bathrooms, and one of the buildings. The reasoning is that they wouldn’t have to rerun utilities etc. They are looking at a pre-engineered building for the second building that would be in a different location.

Krummel: Asks what the history of vandalism was in the area.

Loh: He says they are looking at reconstructing the building with more cement blocks that are sturdier.

Geake: Asks if they would have to walk farther at the new building location.

Loh: Mentions that he should have brought the site plan, but draws the positions of each building in approximation for the council members.

Bonnefant: Asks about cracks in the slab.

Loh: Responds, yes there’s cracks but he’s going to check to see if they are structural or not, and if it is even possible,

Hempstead: Asks who uses field.

Loh: Rugby and football practices.

Krummel: Confirms that the band is using the parking lot.

Hempstead: Asks if we can make the buildings as green a possible, skylights or low flush toilets.

Loh: Explains that they are really playing defense. There were no windows planned.

Hempstead: P&Z will likely ask for windows. [yup]

There’s discussion about aesthetics, security and costs and how these requests will be balanced. They basically agree that they (the buildings) should be more aesthetic and that the determination of the slab will determine what is possible. Krummel says that they can’t authorize pending the slab issue is resolved since they can’t install a slab elsewhere because of the settling issue with the land there.

Hempstead: Suggests that there is no action on this till the bid spec comes in. Provides an example.

Loh: Explains what the over and under 10k procurement issues are. The only person who can write specs in the building is Loh, so that sometimes it is outsourced to an architect to write. That is why they are looking at the service route, which is why the item is on the agenda. They advertised an RFP last week for a Janurary 3rd return.

Bonnefant: band season doesn’t start till the summer,

Loh: The process he goes through, he says he’s already late. But he withdraws the action and will bring it back for the next meeting.

They motion to table the issue unanimously.

Hempstead: Asks that anything of the missing data he gets before the next meeting to get to the committee.

Fodor Farm disposition Schedule:

Hempstead: Says that Alan has set up a schedule. Anything we can do to move things along without jeopardizing anything is a good thing.

Loh: He met with Gerald Foley to go over the schedule. He thinks that a committee set up to review the RFP results. The strategy is that 2 buildings will be sold, but that they would like to seek someone proposing to buy both properties together. If they used the higher bidder they wouldn’t need a committee, but to follow the proposal process they would ned to review what they get.

Hempstead: Suggests that they get designee from the historical committee and possibly the planning committee.

Krummel: Agrees and suggests that the local historic district committees have the expertise on this.

Bonnefant: Says that at the parks and rec talked about this last night and speaks about the community garden.

Loh: Walks the committee through the subdivision of the lots and what in specifics what the property the committee is responsible for. The rest of the property is still open space and falls under parks and recs plus the building the city is retaining. He mentions that there could be the opportunity to have a lot designated so that if the city acquires a historic house, it could be moved to the lot. They have to do it now, otherwise they lose the ability to add a lot at a later time. He asks for a public hearing for the disposition of the the two properties, on 1/17th at 7pm.

Krummel asks about deed restrictions on these properties.

Loh: Says corp counsel issued a deed restriction version. For the new members they have it, the previous committee members will get another copy.

Krummel: Asked if the deed restriction was sent o the HC.

Loh: It was sent to the chairman of the HC.

Krummel: Asks if the public hearing will cover deed restrictions.

Loh: The public hearing is about the disposition of the property, not the sale.

Hempstead: The public hearing is for 8-24 purposes only. The full council won’t get this till April 22nd.

Loh: The action of the council on April 22nd is to approve the buyer.

Hempstead: We should ask council members to sit on meetings when we get to that point. It’s better to do it at the committee level than to wait till the common council gets it and pick it apart on the floor.

Krummel: Says he wants to see deed restrictions just like he’s seeing now.

Loh: Says that the public hearing is on the disposition.

Hempstead: We haven’t passed the sale yet, so the public hearing is the way to get that from the public.

Lindstrom: Wants clarification of the process.

Hempstead: Clarifies that the council only approved the plan in concept only.

Lindstrom: Asks if the public thinks this is a done deal.

Hempstead: Says that what they are holding a public hearing on is the 8-24 review.

Loh: Explains that the original council motion was to guage whether the public was even interested in the idea of the plan and now this was the follow up.

They vote unanimously to hold the public hearing. They will write a referral to the planning commission on the disposition.

8 Hamilton ave: The adjacent property owner wants to buy the small parcel for a driveway. They need to hold an 8-24 review hearing.

Bonnenfant: Verifies that its 117 x 40 feet, and non conforming.

Loh: They have a 2 family unit there, if they combine the lots, site development costs and they would only get 2 family units back. They want to put a driveway there, not expand the housing that is there.

Bonnenfant: Who comes up with the price.

Loh: It will go out to the market, so whatever the market will bear. He looked at the tax assessor to determine the price and that its not a buildable lot.

There’s a discussion about the market value of the property.

They vote unanimously to hold a public hearing 1/17 at 7pm on 8 Hamilton ave.

Norwalk Museum/ Friends of the Museum Operating agreement.

Hempstead: Asks about status of the operating agreement.

Loh: Havnen’t heard anything back from the law department. He will check and get back for the January meeting.

Hempstead: Suggests that they apply pressure to the law department to move forward.

Hempstead passes out a handout about the ADA handicapped issue with the Norwalk Museum door.

Hempstead: There are public restrooms that are tied to the building, and the handicapped entrance. The curator is locking the bathrooms and the handicapped access door in the back. If the building is occupied an d open to the public you cannot lock that door.

Geake: I take the issue very seriously.

Hempstead: We don’t own the building, but the curator is a city employee. We need to send something out instructing them that they must compy. We seem to have an employee that has total disregard for the law. I’m not sure how to head through this, in this committee, that we put something forward as a building management rule.

Loh: We need to find out if this is the only ADA compliant bathrooms and if the door is for the entire building or just for the Norwalk Museum.

Hempstead: The city leases a part of the building and a city employee works there. There should be compliance with the law. He asks for Loh to follow up and get details back to Hempstead and the commission.

Lindstrom: We have to be careful not to overstep our jurisdiction.

Loh: Explains that the Norwalk library has problems with public bathrooms with people doing things that mess up the bathrooms.

Public Comments:

I spoke on the Handicapped door being locked at the Norwalk Museum, and reminded the commission that there was a letter concerning the investigation of the handicapped access door and that Sara LeTourneau investigated and said the door must be kept open.

Hempstead: They will add to the website that people who are interested in presenting stuff to the committee should get it to the committee before the packets go out so that it can be added to agenda.

Diane Lauricella: Speaks about LWV need to have the public participate in all committee meetings. Speaks about Andrews Field. Asks that the commission look at sustainable development for this property, mentions that Alex Knopp wanted to put affordable housing here.

Before they adjourn they plan to have someone from CL & P to talk about green and sustainable energy projects. They plan to have this in January. They plan to invite the public to these sessions as well.